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AQHA Congress is doing a reduced parking fee on 10/22, 10/23, and 10/24, $15 per car instead of the usual $20 per car. If you bring your parking receipt to Big Dee's on those days, they'll give you $15 off a $100 purchase--essentially paying for your parking on that day.http://www.bigdweb.com/media/emailim...m_medium=email

Now I must say, I'm a major bargain shopper and I'm not always impressed with what others consider "deals" at Congress, Equine Affaire, etc. But if you have a coupon, you can score bigtime at Big Dee's on everyday essentials like fly spray, hoof picks, salt licks, etc. The coupon isn't valid on dewormers, but everything else is fair game.

mvp, I *really* should not go to Congress next week because I'm studying for my PhD exams in December, but it's awfully tempting to come out and meet you. I live close to the state fairgrounds.

mvp, I *really* should not go to Congress next week because I'm studying for my PhD exams in December, but it's awfully tempting to come out and meet you. I live close to the state fairgrounds.

I think you should play hookie for one day (or one night while we "study" the pros training in the rings). I say this as someone who has already finished her PhD. Make of that "quality advice" what you will.

[QUOTE][/Ask about "The Green Wall". Is it still there? Of course, there is now an larger official 'night club' on site.QUOTE]

Yes, the green wall is still there ( it's a bar in the Gilligan building for those who are wondering ). Fortunately they moved the entrance to the west side. It is no fun to lead your horse past drunk cowboys! The Corral is the other bar where they have seminars during the day and entertainment at night.
One year the entertainment was extra special when someone decided to take their horse on the stage- cowboy was drunk, horse wasn't but it managed to keep them both from getting killed!!

The show pens have a posted warm up schedule. You can find the schedule on the show office walls or in the celeste. All of the other pens are fair game for whatever whenever, except for lunging, which can only be done in certain pens. The over hang and denny hales are where you find most people schooling.

I've stood and watched the warm up pens at some big shows and while I have seen some riding I would consider a little rough - I've seen equal or worse at local dressage schooling shows.

I was at local day at Washington one year when it was down in VA and a trainer got on a pony and jumped it about 30-40 times over a jump in the schooling ring, cantering the whole time and yanking the pony onto the correct lead in the air over the jump. The pony was EXHAUSTED. The trainer got off, pulled the tack off and handed it to a groom who proceeded to walk the pony for 10 minutes, wiped the sweat marks off and tacked it up with the kid's tack. The trainer then walked the kid and pony over to the indoor and cracked the pony on the rear with a crop (because the pony was exhausted from the trainer riding it) and sent it into the ring.

I wholeheartedly support a rule that Ammy and Junior horses can only be ridden by the Ammy or Junior on the day that the horse is entered into those classes.